While it's No Longer in Business, the Black Sheep Casino was a Classic

The Black Sheep Casino, operated by the Black Sheep Casino Company, was based out of Cameron Park in California. The casino was fairly small, which may have contributed to its going out of business, but it was very popular with those who lived nearby.

The casino was situated in a small neighbourhood shopping centre up on a fairly remote road in the mountains. If you didn't live in the area or know it was up there, you would probably not expect a casino in such an area. There wasn't a large amount of parking in the strip mall area, but people who wanted to visit Black Sheep could find a place to park if they didn't mind a short walk. The building itself was a very nice room, but while its wide windows made the area feel rather spacious, the truth is that Black Sheep only had room for two nine-player tables.

This lack of space meant that anyone who came in after the tables were full was going to be waiting. The casino was connected to a bar, so those waiting did have a place to sit and have a drink or two. Drinks were available to players, too, and casino or bar staff would often check if players needed refills. The bar was actually separated from the casino by a short stretch of hall, so the actual playing area was usually fairly quiet.

The games at Black Sheep were card games only. The blinds tended to vary, and buy ins were often anywhere from $40 to $200 depending on the night and the game. Some games, such as 200 NL, were very fun and interesting, while others were fairly traditional poker or blackjack. Perhaps a part of the reason why the casino was unsuccessful was due to the lack of different gambling options. Slots easily out rank most gambling options, and not having any in your casino must have been a huge turn off. Online casinos usually base their entire site around slot games because of their popularity, but still offer other games to accommodate all players. Playing newly released slot games without spending any money is popular online as well. Players can play for free here and learn about specific game features without spending a dime. Then have the option to be directed to a credible online casino.

Like most casinos, tournaments were available on specific nights or at specific times. These tournaments gave players a chance to win a little extra cash every now and then. However, if there weren't enough players, the tournaments would often be cancelled.

California actually has a good number of casinos, including more than 65 Indian casinos and over 90 different poker casinos. The legal age to make bets is 18, but because most casinos serve alcohol, the de facto age to gamble is 21. In addition to these casinos, California also allows betting on horse races, playing the state lottery, and gambling in charity games. State legislation has been passed that prohibits casino type gambling such as those found in Nevada.